Barbados is an independent British Commonwealth nation in the eastern Caribbean. Its Capital City, Bridgetown is a cruise ship port with colonial architecture and Nidhe Israel, a temple founded in 1654. Barbados is encompassed by lovely beaches, tropical gardens, the Harrison’s Cave formation. And 17th-century plantation estates like St. Nicholas Abbey. Local traditions include tea at afternoon and cricket, the Island’s national sport. Barbados covers an area of about 166 square miles and has a population of approximately 277, 821 people.
Why Go
While you will find the typical Caribbean characteristics — sandy beaches, emerald golf courses and all-inclusive resorts — Barbados have an unmistakably unique glamour. In Barbados, you can get a taste of the bittersweet Mount Gay Rum, attend a horse race and groove to calypso.
You can discover a white-sand beach, a verdant golf course duty-free shopping malls at just about every Caribbean Island, but in Barbados, you can take in a polo or a cricket match or try out one of the many calypso events intoxicated by the Island’s spicy rums. Although you could spend all of your days at the beach, you can still find much more things to do exploring this Caribbean paradise. This extravagant Island is filled with stunning buildings, a passionate party-loving attitude and sports culture.
The most easterly Caribbean Island, Barbados features two cultures to create a unique Bajan personality. The Island still has a firm hold on its British traditions, even though it gained independence; and trademarks of West Africa are still noticeable, with the island’s cane fields, rum distilleries and gorgeous landscapes. And still, has many beaches. While the entire Barbados shorelines boast scenic views and tranquil ocean breezes, the most visited beaches are Dover Beach and Carlisle Bay.
Bathsheba Beach, which is situated on the West Coast of Barbados, is a surfer’s and photographer’s heaven. For photographers, Bathsheba offers dramatic rock formations and abandoned houses. And for surfers, Bathsheba offers the beach’s famous Soup Bowl, where world class waves can be found. Named after the foamy water of the beach, the Soup Bowl is so popular that international surfing competitions are regularly held here. Because of the rough water in the area and rock formations, it is not sea to swim at Bathsheba Beach. Recent visitors praised Bathsheba Beach’s scenic setting and amazing surf. Like other beaches in Barbados, the Bathsheba Beach is free to visit from (sunrise to sunset) and offers some complimentary parking. Bathrooms are also available on site.
Dover Beach of the South Coast can be found in Ousting, which is situated in Christ Church parish. Although the beaches make it not the perfect place for activities like kayaking and paddle-boarding, the waters are still ideal for surfing. Other popular water sports include Hobie Cat sailing, windsurfing and skiing. An area for swimming away from the ocean’s rip tides is also available. Travellers who are seeking a more quiet beach will love Dover Beach’s laid-back vibe. In fact, some recent travellers noted that Dover Beach’s relaxed atmosphere was so inviting that they didn’t visit any other beaches during their stay.
Situated on the southwestern coast of Barbados, Carlisle Bay’s beaches has tranquil waters, making it the perfect place to swim. The shipwreck in the bay also makes Carlisle Bay an excellent spot for snorkelling. Aquatic animals you may encounter while exploring the bay are turtles, rock lobsters and fish. Adventure junkies rave about the abundance of activities in the area while visitors with children will tell how calm the waters are and the cleanliness of the surroundings. Watersport equipment like kayaks and jet skis are available for rent from the local vendors, or you can arrange for horseback riding on the seaside. There is also lounge chairs, towel and umbrellas available for rent. Travellers usually charter bus or taxi to get to Carlisle Bay with is located 2 miles south-west of Bridgetown. Lifeguards and free parking are available at all the bays, and nearby facilities include dive shops, public restrooms and shops.
Harrison's Cave is one of Barbados’ most popular attractions. The limestone cavern features many streams, as well as stalagmites, stalactites along with other types of calcite deposits. The cave sits in the middle of Barbados about 5 minutes from Bathsheba Beach and Holetown. Harrison’s Cave is a must-see attraction in Barbados according to recent visitors. While the caves receive most of the praises, the caves educated tour guides were also adored by recent travellers. Harrison’s Cave offers many different tours on a daily basis 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tours generally last an hour and costs 60 Barbadian dollars ($30USD) for adults and half the price for kids. Walk-In Tours are offered on Saturdays, and there is also a special tour for children which focuses on bats and other facts about the cave.
Named after its sea anemones, animal flower cave is the only accessible sea cave in Barbados, situated under the North Point cliffs in the parish of St. Lucy. Although it is not as well-known as the Harrison’s Cave, you might want to make the trip from your lodging to spend at least an hour exploring the caves. Though Animal Flower Cave is impressive traveller warn that getting to the area is challenging and there is hardly anything else in the area to explore. And you should be cautious of where you step when entering the cave, as the stairs are steep and the rocks are slippery. Animal Flower Cave is open every day, all day but guided tours are only available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to enter the cave is $10USD per person.
One of two local rum producers in Barbados; Mount Gay offers the tour of its visitors centre, where visitors can get an up-close look at how Mount Gay Rum is produced. After the tour of the company’s bottling facility, the guest gets to sample several types of Mount Gay’s rums. Most travellers say the tour is educational, but a bit too long, so you should have a keen interest in rum-making. If you want to make the experience better, consider taking the lunch tour. However, don't expect to see Mount Gay’s Rum distillery during your visit since Mount Gay Rum is produced at a separate facility in St. Lucy. The Mount Gay Visitor Centre is located, about 3 miles west of central Bridgetown near Brandon Beach. You can take Mount Gay's signature tasting tour on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or on select Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The admission is 20 Barbadian dollars (or $10) per person, though children 11 and younger get in for free
Crane Beach, with its exquisite pink coral sand, was once a boat dock where cargo was unloaded and brought by crane roosted atop the cliff. Nowadays it’s the most popular beach in Barbados. Tourists, cruise ship visitors and locals visit the beach to enjoy the rolling surf, sunbathe on the cotton-like sand and get a peek at the luxurious Crane Beach Hotel, the oldest resort in Barbados. To get to the beach, visitors have to descend many stairs, while Crane Beach resort has its own elevator to sand level.
Featuring tropical plants from all around the world. The Andromeda Botanic Gardens are famous not only for their collection but also for their picturesque location on a cliffside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. You will notice breadfruit trees descended from those collected by Captain Bligh, of Mutiny fame, as well as unique species of palms and succulents. Also to note are large beard fig trees which once dominated the landscape in large forests, possibly prompting the passing Portuguese sailors to call the Island “Barbados” which means “the bearded ones”. A garden is also a perfect place for bird watching.
Gun Hill Signal Station was built in 1818 and was used to sound the approach of enemy ships as well as for the protection of Cargo ships; the Gun Hill Signal Station offers scenic views across the entire island of Barbados. The station lies on the Highland of St. George. On the lower part of the hill is a sculpture of a lion that was carved by a British Soldier from a single Boulder the 19th century.
Formed by a collapsed roof of a series of caves, Welchman Hall Gully and the surrounding cliffs gives the impression of an untouched landscape and plant diversity that must have greeted the Island’s first settlers. The gully is now protected by the Barbados National Trust and is the home to over 200 species of tropical plants, including bamboo and wild ginger. A series of steps lead to a scenic overlook, and lucky visitors may glimpse groups of monkeys frolicking in the valley.
Just off Holetown, where the first European settlers to Barbados landed in 1627, a man-made reef was formed 1976 by intentionally sinking a fire-gutted 360-foot freighter ship. The Stavronikita now lies upright in 120 feet of Caribbean Sea with Corals growing on its masts and wishes swimming through its hull. Only experienced divers should attempt the dive on the ship. Snorkelers can follow the underwater path around the inshore reef found in the park’s Recreational Zone, about half a mile offshore. Boats are available for rent in Holetown, and visitors will also find a reef interpretation centre and museum of marine life here.
At the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, across from Farley Hill, visitors can stroll among animals. Protected paths lead to a mahogany forest populated by agoutis, deer, iguanas, tortoises and a vast collection of tropical birds. Wild green monkeys that were imported from Africa by early settlers can also be spotted on the reserve, and plant lovers will enjoy the park’s colourful display of orchids. The admission is inclusive of a visit to the nearby Grenade Hall Signal Station.
Formerly the grounds of a rich plantation house, Farley Hill National Park is now a scenic hilltop garden nestled in a jungle of mahogany trees. This vibrant 17-acre park is also an ideal venue for weddings and picnics. The house was reduced to shells of stonewalls by fire and natural elements, and the ruins now encompass the flowers and palms. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking vistas of the ocean and roll palm-covered hills from atop the hill behind the house.
